Can a diet rich in Brassicaceae help control Helicobacter pylori infection? A systematic review.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review of human studies and human cell cultures evaluating dietary Brassicaceae/sulforaphane for H. pylori infection.
PubMed 39741515 · doi:10.3389/fmed.2024.1454902
What was done
A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted across MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library through October 18, 2023. The review included human studies and H. pylori-infected human cell cultures assessing whole Brassicaceae consumption or derived bioactive compounds (e.g., sulforaphane). Outcomes of interest included H. pylori control/eradication, synergy with antibiotic regimens, antibiotic adverse effect reduction, and gastric mucosal inflammation markers. Animal models, non-human cell lines, and studies specifically targeting H. pylori-related gastric cancer were excluded.
What was found
The abstract provides no numerical data, effect sizes, sample sizes, or pooled risk estimates. Qualitatively, the review found that Brassicaceae consumption is associated with reduced H. pylori colonization, though complete eradication was rarely achieved with diet alone. Results regarding the therapeutic efficacy of whole broccoli were conflicting, with some studies showing minimal effect and others reporting enhanced eradication when paired with standard triple therapy. Broccoli extract/sulforaphane derivatives reduced pro-inflammatory markers and attenuated mucosal damage. Sulforaphane derivatives did not reliably reduce antibiotic-associated adverse events, with high variability in individual response.
Why it matters
Rising antibiotic resistance complicates standard H. pylori eradication protocols. This review maps the evidence for Brassicaceae-derived sulforaphane as a non-antibiotic adjunct to suppress bacterial load and mucosal inflammation, while clarifying that it does not replace conventional eradication therapy.
Limits
The abstract does not state the total number of included studies or aggregate participant counts. No quantitative meta-analysis was reported. Interventions across studies were heterogeneous, ranging from whole food intake to purified extracts and cell culture models. Findings for key outcomes—particularly eradication rates and mitigation of antibiotic side effects—remain conflicting and variable.
Cited by
- context Sulforaphane exerts protective antimicrobial effects against Helicobacter pylori and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).